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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Transpupillary-Guided Trans-Scleral Transplantation of Subretinal Grafts in a Retinal Degeneration Mouse Model
Published on: January 26, 2024
Growth kinetics and transplantation of human retinal progenitor cells
Unber Aftab1, Caihui Jiang, Budd Tucker
1Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. unber.aftab@schepens.harvard.edu
Insights
Human retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs) from 16-18 weeks gestational age (G.A.) show optimal growth and differentiation potential. Transplanted hRPCs integrate into degenerating retinas, expressing rhodopsin, supporting their use in treating retinal disorders.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Human retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs) are a promising cell source for retinal regeneration.
- Understanding their growth kinetics and differentiation potential is crucial for therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the growth kinetics of hRPCs from different gestational ages (G.A.).
- To determine the differentiation capacity of hRPCs into mature photoreceptors.
- To assess the integration of transplanted hRPCs into degenerating host retinas.
Main Methods:
- hRPCs isolated from donor eyes (12-18 weeks G.A.) were expanded in vitro.
- Cell proliferation, immunocytochemistry, and PCR were used for characterization.
- Co-culture and transplantation studies were performed in mouse models of retinal degeneration.
Main Results:
- hRPCs from 16-18 weeks G.A. exhibited the longest in vitro survival and highest cell yield, proliferating over at least 6 passages.
- Differentiated hRPCs expressed photoreceptor markers and retinal stem cell markers (nestin, Ki-67, PAX6, Lhx2).
- Transplanted hRPCs migrated into the host retina and expressed rhodopsin.
Conclusions:
- hRPCs from 16-18 weeks G.A. possess optimal proliferative dynamics.
- hRPCs can be differentiated into photoreceptors.
- Transplanted hRPCs demonstrate integration and differentiation in vivo, highlighting their therapeutic potential for retinal degenerative disorders.
Abstract:
We studied the growth kinetics of human retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs) isolated from donor tissue of different gestational ages (G.A.), determined whether hRPCs can be differentiated into mature photoreceptors and assessed their ability to integrate with degenerating host retina upon transplantation. Eyes (12-18 weeks G.A.) were obtained with IRB approval and retinas were enzymatically dissociated. Cells were expanded in vitro, counted at isolation and at each passage, and characterized using immunocytochemistry and PCR. GFP positive hRPCs were co-cultured with retinal explants from rd1 and rhodopsin -/- mice, or transplanted into B6 mice with retinal photocoagulation and rhodopsin -/- mice. Eyes were harvested for histological evaluation following transplantation. Our results show that hRPCs from 16 to 18 weeks G.A. had the longest survival in vitro and yielded the maximum number of cells, proliferating over at least 6 passages. These cells expressed the retinal stem cell markers nestin, Ki-67, PAX6 and Lhx2, and stained positively for photoreceptor markers upon differentiation with serum. Some of the GFP positive cells used for transplantation studies showed evidence of migration into the degenerative host retina and expressed rhodopsin. In conclusion, we have determined the growth kinetics of hRPCs and have shown that cells from donor tissue of 16-18 weeks G.A. exhibit the best proliferative dynamics under the specified conditions, and that hRPCs can also be differentiated along the photoreceptor lineage. Further, we have also demonstrated that following transplantation, some of these cells integrate within the host retina and differentiate to express rhodopsin, thereby supporting the potential utility of hRPC transplantation in the setting of retinal degenerative disorders.
